Broadcast tribunal TDSAT has directed leading broadcasters Star and Sony group to supply their signals in Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) platform promoted by the two Zee Group firms, Dish TV and Wire and Wireless.
Passing an interim order the TDSAT bench headed by Justice Arun Kumar directed Star Den and MSM Discovery, distributors of Star and Sony Group of channel to provide their channeles on a-la-carte basis to Zee group firms.
The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal also directed the broadcasters to provide channels at rates quoted by them in their reference interconnect offer (RIO) offering channels to Direct-to-Home operators.
"As an interim measure and without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the parties... for the HITS platform of the petitioner (Zee group firms) the respondent (Star Den and MSM Discovery) will supply its channels on bouquet/ a-la-carte basis, at DTH RIO terms and rates filed by the respondent with TRAI," said the Tribunal in its interim order.
The tribunal also directed the broadcaster to supply their activated decoders by October 23. According to the broadcast regulations broadcasters have to give their channels to DTH operators on half the price they charge from the cable operators in the non-CAS area.
Also, the tribunal also directed broadcasters to file their reply over the petition filed by the Zee group firms and suggested all of them to "make efforts in the meanwhile to amicably resolve the matter."
Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) technology, is a new mode of delivering channels through a satellite multiplex service that enables customers to pick and choose channels similar to a conditional access system (CAS).
